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Nigeria Officially Declared Ebola-Free

Updated 04.14.17 2:45PM ET / Published 10.20.14 6:15AM ET

Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty

The World Health Organization declared Nigeria to be officially free of the Ebola virus. Nigeria has not had a confirmed case of the disease for 42 days, or two incubation periods of 21 days. WHO also declared Senegal to be free of Ebola on Friday. Nigeria’s success is drawing attention from many fighting the spreading virus who are impressed that the country’s efforts to contain the disease with an underfunded and ill-equipped health system. “It’s possible to control Ebola. It’s possible to defeat Ebola. We’ve seen it here in Nigeria,” said Onyebuchi Chukwu, the country’s health minister. The country experienced 20 cases of Ebola, and the virus ultimately killed eight people. Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone continue to struggle with thousands of cases and deaths.